Device and method for lifting and transporting conventional hay bale feeders with a round hay bale

Abstract

A device and method for lifting and transporting a conventional hay bale feeder in association with the directed movement of a round hay bale and for facilitating the placement of the feeder around the bale. The device is removably attached to the feeder and consists of a lift arm assembly, a lift arm support assembly, and an anti-slide stabilizing assembly. The lift arm assembly includes a lift arm that is angled away from the top of the feeder to provide feeder lift. The lift arm support assembly acts as a brace to support the lift arm. The anti-slide stabilizing assembly limits rearward and side to side rocking movement of the feeder when lifted and transported, respectively. In alternate embodiments, the device is integrated into circular and multi-sided feeders during manufacture, forming single stand-alone units. The method of using the device includes moving the bale toward the lift arm using a tractor or other vehicle, tilting of the feeder in an upward direction as the lift arm contacts and slides up the bale, terminating the bale movement when the lift arm rests on top of the bale, moving the hay bale in the opposite direction causing the lift arm to penetrate into the bale and pull the feeder in unison with the bale, terminating the bale movement at the feeding location, and pushing the feeder down over the bale or pushing the bale into the feeder until the feeder falls to the ground with the bale inside. Moreover, the design of the device allows the lift arm to be pivoted toward and secured to the feeder for manual rolling of the feeder in the traditional manner.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 643,102, filed 2005 Jan. 11 by the present inventor.FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH [0002] Not Applicable SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM [0003] Not Applicable BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION—FIELD OF INVENTION [0004] This invention relates to the maneuvering of a conventional hay bale feeder or ring, typically used to feed cattle, and more specifically to a device and method for (a) lifting and transporting the feeder by an interaction produced between the device and a conventional round hay bale upon the directed movement of the bale and (b) facilitating the placement of the feeder around the bale. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION—PRIOR ART [0005] In a typical farming or ranching operation, it is a common practice to feed cattle with conventional round bales of hay weighing up to 1800 pounds because they offer many advantages over the alternative of traditional small sq...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is a device that allows a conventional hay bale feeder to be lifted and transported by the movement of a round or square bale. The device includes a lift arm, a lift arm support, and an anti-slide stabilizing member. The device can be used with a bale carrier on a tractor, truck, or special trailer, and it promotes safety for cattle and workers. The device also allows for a slower downward descent of the feeder over the bale, and it can be easily retrofitted in the field or integrated into a feeder at manufacture. The device can elevate the associated feeder off the ground for protection from corrosion. The technical effects of the invention include improved efficiency, safety, and protection of equipment and cattle."

Problems solved by technology

The reason that the bale is placed in a different location from the previous feeding location is that if it is not moved, the continued concentration of cattle around the feeder will result in the surrounding grass getting trampled and possibly destroyed and / or ruts being formed in the ground.

Another problem is that old uneaten hay will collect in the bottom of the feeder if the feeder is not moved.

There are numerous inherent problems associated with feeding cattle in the above described manner, namely due to the required manual maneuvering of the large heavy feeder.

First, the tractor operator has to get off of the tractor and walk over to the feeder, leaving cattle that have gathered free to eat from the unprotected bale.

Lifting the heavy feeder up on its side can be very hard, especially for small, old, and / or handicapped people.

Rolling the 8 foot high feeder can also be a challenging task if the terrain is uneven, uphill, and / or if it is windy.

Tilting the feeder over the bale can be the most difficult task for even taller stronger people because the high feeder center of gravity has to be rotated beyond the feeder's ground pivot point by pushing the feeder from only one side which tends to cause an adverse side rotation of the feeder.

The problems associated with the manual handling of the feeder are further multiplied if it is raining, muddy, and / or nighttime.

In addition, manual handling of the feeder can be deadly to small calves.

If calves are near the bale when the feeder falls from its 8 foot height, they could be hit by the feeder and extensively injured or even killed.

Removing the hay bale twine in the presence of cattle trying to access the hay bale poses a significant safety problem to the operator.

While these devices provide for powered lifting and carrying of both the bales and feeders, they all heretofore known suffer from a number of deficiencies and drawbacks.

The problems associated with this feeder lifting arrangement are: (1) on tractors with limited 3 point hitch lift height, typical of smaller tractors, it is probable that the feeder cannot be lifted high enough to clear large bales due to: the geometry of the 3 point hitch, the close proximity of the feeder to the hitch, and the relatively loose fit between the spear and the receiving cylinder, due to the cylinder having to accommodate different size spears, (2) the adapter can only be used with spear bale carriers, (3) the spear has to be inserted into the adapter's receiving cylinder which can present alignment difficulties and therefore, can be a trying task, (4) the vertical member of the adapter's frame can interfere with the adjacent cattle access openings on some feeders with slanted openings and possibly result in a cow's head being caught in the reduced opening, and (5) in typical feeding practices, using this arrangement requires that the bale be placed at the feeding location and then moving the feeder to the bale, a 2 step process.

The problems associated with this feeder lifting arrangement are: (1) on tractors with limited 3 point hitch lift height, typical of smaller tractors, it is probable that the feeder cannot be lifted high enough to clear large bales due to the geometry of the 3 point hitch and to the close proximity of the feeder to the hitch, (2) connecting the hook with the top feeder ring could be difficult if the terrain is rough, (3) the lower 2 spears will hit a sheet metal panel connecting the middle ring to the bottom ring on feeders of this type and prevent the hook from connecting to the top feeder ring, unless somehow, the lower 2 spears could be inserted under the feeder's bottom ring (a difficult task) which would require that the adjustable hook be precisely set to the feeder's top ring height, (4) the use of this bale carrier requires the added procurement expense of a redundant bale carrier, since a bale carrier normally already exists in most feeding operations, and (5) in typical feeding practices, using this arrangement requires that the bale be placed at the feeding location and then moving the feeder to the bale, a 2 step process.

The problems associated with this feeder lifting arrangement are: (1) on tractors with limited 3 point hitch lift height, typical of smaller tractors, it is probable that the feeder cannot be lifted high enough to clear large bales due to the geometry of the 3 point hitch and to the close proximity of the feeder to the hitch, (2) connecting the hooks to the top feeder ring could be difficult or unattainable if the terrain is rough, (3) placing the feeder around a hay bale could be a problem, since the spear could hit or insert into the top of the hay bale before the feeder touches the ground and make hook disengagement difficult, and (4) in typical feeding practices, using this arrangement requires that the bale be placed at the feeding location and then moving the feeder to the bale, a 2 step process.

The problems associated with this feeder lifting arrangement are: (1) the adapter can only be used with fork bale carriers, (2) the adapter has to be wider than the fork bale carrier which dictates that the adapter is wider then at least 2 feeder cattle access openings and therefore, not only will it impede cattle access to the openings but could result in serious injury to cattle by their legs or other body parts being caught in the various openings in the structure, (3) the structure is relatively large and complex resulting in higher relative cost, (4) the feeder cannot be manually turned on its side and rolled with the adapter installed on the feeder, and (5) in typical feeding practices, using this arrangement requires that the bale be placed at the feeding location and then moving the feeder to the bale, a 2 step process.

The problems associated with this feeder lifting arrangement are: (1) the significantly higher relative cost due to the carrier's heavy boom structure and hydraulic components, (2) the carrier cannot be used on smaller tractors due to the high torque, created by the weight of the bale and the long boom, which can cause the front of the tractor to lift off of the ground, and (3) in typical feeding practices, using this arrangement requires that the bale be placed at the feeding location and then moving the feeder to the bale, a 2 step process.

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